We heard the verses from 1 Corinthians 13 read so often at weddings, that it's hard to put them in any other context than marriage. Granted, a marriage relationship is supremely important to get right. I would also say that employer-employee relationships are very important and we should learn to get them right as well. Bad employer-employee relationships not only affect the individuals, they infect the organization's culture with toxicity, low productivity, low community reputation, and low profitability and all the rippling effects from profit generation that are impacted.
A recent management book, Love As a Management Practice, highlights many of the Corinthian chapter's verses in a business context. And it's welcome in that regard. How do we show patience and why is it important in the workplace?
The broader context to the "love chapter" in the bible is clear from the first few verses:
If I speak in the tongues a of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, b but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Cor. 13.1-3 NIV)
Let me suggest a paraphrase:
If I market with all the skill of Madison Ave and win large contracts, but do not have love, I'm just making noise in the marketplace. If I set a brilliant strategic plan that creates tremendous business growth, but do not have love, I've put my ladder up against the wrong wall and am measuring success the wrong way. If work 80-hour weeks and pay my employees handsomely but do not have love, my place in God's kingdom is not assured.
Recently, and often unfortunately, I've worked with CEO's, who in times of deep stress, resort to what they've learned to be appropriate responses to crises, real or imagined. I've seen them berate employees, customers, suppliers--focusing on the people rather than the process or problem that created the situation. (I often recall Juran's mantra that 80% of problems are controlled by management while Goldratt claims it's more like 99% because the activities are interrelated and not independent events.) They fail to exhibit "love is patient...kind...". They fail to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5)--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control. Bosses are not exempt from these strictures. In fact, as business "teachers or preachers"--placed in authority--in the workplace, we can be held to a higher standard (James 3.1).
It is especially troubling to see CEO's who say they've dedicated the business to the Lord, that the business is their ministry and they want to win people to a relationship with God. How effective is their ministry when public humiliation occurs? Are people attracted to that level of grace and mercy, our actions and words meant to reflect the nature of the Christ for whom we are ambassadors?
Being a boss does not mean we can ignore exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit in all interactions we have, personal and professional, nor fail to practice the dictums in 1 Cor. 13. If you really want to be worried as a business manager, read the whole book of James and try to practice what it preaches. Here's just a few snippets:
- be joyful in the midst of problems
- guard your tongue because if God loves them, so should you
- don't prejudge or be biased in favor of people with status or looks or "what they can do for you"
- help others tangibly, not just with words
- be accountable
- be humble in expectations ("we'll go to this village and make a profit over the next year" 4.13) because the Lord determines the outcome
- pay your employees fairly, justly--and your suppliers and your customers when owed a rebate or refund
- don't judge or condemn or speak harshly
No comments:
Post a Comment